Artificial limb



D TATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD H. DUTTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,559, dated April 12, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD Il. DU'rfroN, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Artificial Limbs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in providing bolt t' Figure 2 with a hardened cylindrical tube A, of which the outside forms a smooth durable bearing for the knee and ankle to work upon, and holds the side pieces t t firmly in their places, when bolt fl is tightly screwed up, it prevents them from springing in, and causing too much side friction. The feather spring B Fig. l, and hardened friction roller C, acting in combination with each other to bring the leg forward in Walking, which are so constructed that they do not act when the leg is fiexed, the feather spring D attached at the point a, acting upon the foot in such a manner as to raise the toes over any unevenness of the ground in walking. The cords Z Z are firmly attached at the points m, m, and to the knee piece, by the means of the bolt E and pulleys F, F, the bolt passing jthrough them and screwing into brace O. The spring G, acts upon the toes to bring them in their proper position, when there is no strain upon them, and is so applied that the wood below the spring forms a stop, preventing them from being bent down, and also connects them to the foot.

I do not claim the invention of artificial limbs or of the several parts thereof generally. But

That I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The use of the hardened cylindrical tube A, in constructing joints for artificial limbs, substantially as, and for the purposes set forth and described.

T he use of the feather spring D when so constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein set forth.

3. The use of the bolt E and pulleys F F when so constructed and arranged for the purpose herein described.

4i. The use of the spring G when so con structed and applied to act substantially as, and for the purpose set forth and described.

RICHARD H. BUTTON.

Witnesses SAMUEL PRICE, Jos. A. SPEEL. 

